Lazy susan



Nov. 17, 1959 H. THOMPSON 2,913,126

' LAZY SUSAN Filed Sept. 30, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HOWARD THOMPSON ATTORNEY.

Nov. 17, 1959 TH MPS N 2,913,126

LAZY SUSAN Filed Sept. 30, 1955 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HOWARD THOMPSON ATTORNEY.

Nov. 17, 1959 H. THOMPSON LAZY SUSAN' Filed Sept. 30, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. fll HOWARD TH PSON United States This invention relates to improvements in rotatable 15 multi-compartment dispensing devices and is concerned, more particularly, with devices of the character known as Lazy Susans. p

Among the disadvantages of present Lazy Susans are that theyare bulky and require excessive storage and ship- 20 ping space. Further, it is well known that they are awkward to handle and usually require two hands for carrying. i I V It is, accordingly, a principal'object of the-present invention to provide a Lazy Susanfor similar device which is free of the foregoing and other disadvantages which characterize present devices and which requires only minimum space for storage in the home orin restaurants and which is easily manipulated by the user.

A more specific object is to provide a rotatable multicompartment dispensing device such as .a Lazy Susan which is collapsible and has a plurality of hinged peripheral' compartments orbowl supports which may be folded inwardly and stackedwithin the confines of the central supporting member in very compact position for storage or'shipping and wherein only as many compart- 'ments or bowlsupports as are'needed for immediate use need be extended in supporting position.

Another object is to provide a device having pedestal legs which are adapted to be'collapse d orfolded against the bottom of the" central supporting member for still further compactness when not in use and the invention also contemplates the provision of a device having an upright handle for convenience for carrying but which handle may be folded in the plane of the central supporting member when the device is not in use.

' In a preferred embodiment'of the invention, as hereinafter illustrated and described, the device may be in the form of a' rack for supporting a' plurality of removable bowls or the like which arereadilyremoved for refilling or cleaningand which maybe utilized in any particular number-desired. 1

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom'thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein a'p'referred embo'diment of the principles" of the invention has been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings: I

Figtfl is a top plan view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention fully;v extended operative position; I i 2'18, 1 i sl ati na Vie of h e e wn in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the device in fully folded or storage position;

Fig. 4'is a side elevational view of the device as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3,; i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view looking at the handle connection as shown in Fig. 3 and ce 913m Patented Nov. 17, 1959 :2 illustrating in 'solid lines a portion of the handle in folded position and in broken lines in upright operative position;

'Fig. -'7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7-of Fig 6; i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing the {hinged connection of one of the supporting pedestal legs;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of i a d Fig. 10 is an enlarged view partlyin section taken on the line 10 1 0 of Fig. 3 showing one of the collapsible ring supports in outwardly extended operative position in solidlines and in intermediate and folded-positions-in broken lines. I

Referring more particularly, to the drawings, wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts, the device as illustrated comprises a central supporting dish-like member 10 in the form of a plurality of radially extending arcuate ribs 12 and w hich is provided with a central platform 14 and an upstanding peripheral rim 16. A folding U-shape "spring handle 18 is provided for the device and to fac'ilitate retention of the handle in upright operative position, a rib and groove cam arrangement such as shown at 20 and 22 in Figs. 6 and 7 is preferably provided adjacent the'pivotal connections of, the opposed ends of the handle 18 with the central supporting member 10.

To lock the handle in upright operative position, the,

pivotal 'connections may be in the form of a key 21 proiecting outwardly of the rim 16 in engagement with an apertilred handle end portion '23 which, as shown in Fig. 6, co nprises an enlarged partin which the key 21 may be relatively rotated ahd a narrow part in which the key 2 1 be ,slidably fixed to prevent relative transverse "movement of the handle. i V i 'It will be apparent that the central platform 14' provides supportfor a relatively large or main central serving bowl, For auxiliary bowl supports, a pluralityof rings?! may, be games substantially equidistantly around 7 the peripheryv of the central supporting member 10 and,

for hingedly securing such rings 24, a plurality ofjangular hinge members 26 are provided ,one for each of ftlie rings. Each hingenrember includes a laterallyext aslin am .2810 which a g is attached, integrally 9 o h rwi e nd. an r s tb m srfi having an e longated'interior slot 32 in which a portion of the rim 16 is received whereby hingedly to connect each of the rings .Zdto the central supporting member 10. It app re Par c l y fr m Fissn 0 t a th' elon ated slots .32 o he h n members am relati y s ida le w hr esn o th u p r m rtion 1 o ha e r n s 24 ar dapted o be t d d i tac ed ho i o tal po i io a su qe siv hei hts Wi in th con s o t e centr su po t n me be 10b he plane q th na ls-,7. T11? sfn l'bqwl ous auxiliary bowls, not shown, rn'ay 'al N "r an sto ed in h !lF-? ll ll iill ms h desired I v/ l be far e apri en ,-pa ,ula lY m Fi s- 1; lan. 'l. that a lt se e ted rings 24- in un ou wa dl IO the e t l a crt nsfi i substantially in the plane of the rim 1 6 in operative owl supporting position"w hen desired The'periphe cle' wall portion of thecentral member 10, as shown, iit

awayat the portions thereof, in the foldingjpathiofstiie hinge rhembersjZG but-provision is-madeforsuitalile abutment betweenthehing'e body members are da wall portion of thelcent'ral' supporting member .ltlffgr limiting theoutward ,s'winging'of the ring members .24 an ,for maintaining thedring members in, substantially h qfit qut pb sitioni M l Z pedestal base, indicated in its entirety at 34,].is prfer blrrl nvid d and, asshown, m y in lud a base be t plate 36 for rotatably supporting the central member and a plurality of depending pedestal legs 38. The legs 38 are preferably pivotally attached to the base plate 36 for folding upwardly against the base plate for compact storage purposes when the device is not in use. A

'very convenient construction for this purpose as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a reversely bent U-shaped spring 40, one for each of the legs 38, carried at the underside of the plate 36 adjacent the pivotal connection 42 of the legs. The bearing arm 44 of each of the springs is provided with a recess 46 for receiving a lug 48 which projects upwardly from each of the legs 38 whereby to lock the legs in extended support position. To release the legs 38 for folding, it is merely necessary to press the spring bearing arm 44 upwardly in the direction of the left hand arrow in Fig. 9 into the broken line position shown so that the lug 48 is clear of the recess 46 and the legs may then be turned upon their pivotal connections 42 upwardly in lateral folded inoperative position.

It is to be understood that the principles of the present invention are not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described but embrace all such modifications: thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A rotatable and collapsible support for a plurality of bowls or the like which comprises, a dish-like central supporting member having an upstanding central platform and an upstanding peripheral rim, a folding U- shaped handle for said support and pivotal connections between the ends of said handle and said support, the said pivotal connections including cam means tending to retain said handle in upright position and means carried by said rim for locking said handle in upright elevated position, aplurality of rings carried substantially equidistantly of said rim and forming auxiliary supportingmembers, a plurality of angular hinge members one for each of said rings, each of said hinge members including a laterally extending arm for carrying a ring and an upright elongated slotted body member receiving a portion of said rim for hingedly connecting said rings ,to said central supporting member, the said slotted members being slidable relative to said rim whereby said rings are adapted to be folded in stacked position within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim, the said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward swinging of said rings, a base including a base plate rotatably supporting said central supporting member, the said base also including folding pedestal legs pivotally attached to said base plate, springs having recesses carried by said base plate adjacent the pivotal connection of said legs and projecting lugs provided on said legs for engagement with said recesses whereby to lock said legs in extended support position.

2. A rotatable and collapsible support for a plurality of bowls or the like which comprises, a dish-like central bers, each of said hinge members including a laterally extending arm for carrying an.auxiliary member and .an upright elongated slotted body member receiving a portion of said rim for hingedly connecting said auxiliary members to said central supporting member, the said slotted members being slidable relative to said rim whereby said auxiliary members are adapted to be folded in stacked position within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim, the said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward swinging of said rings, a base including a base plate rotatably supporting said central supporting member, the said base also including folding legs pivotally attached to said base plate, springs having recesses carried by said base plate adjacent the pivotal connection of-said legs and projecting lugs provided on said legs for engagement with said recesses whereby to lock said legs in extended support position.

3. A rotatable and collapsible support for a plurality of bowls or the like which comprises, a dish-like central supporting member having an upstanding central platform and an upstanding peripheral rim, a plurality of rings carried substantially equidistantly of said rim and forming auxiliary supporting members, a plurality of angular hinge members one for each of said rings, each of said hinge members including an upright elongated slotted body member receiving a portion of said rim for hingedly connecting said rings to said central supporting member, the said slotted members being slidable relative to said rim whereby said rings are adapted to be folded in stacked position within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim, and said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward swinging of said rings, a base including a base plate rotatably supporting said central supporting member, the said base also including folding pedestal legs pivotally attached to said base plate, springs having recesses carried by said base" plate adjacent the pivotal connection of said legs and projecting lugs provided on said legs for engagement with said recesses whereby to lock said legs in extended support position.

gated slotted 'body member receiving a portion of said rim for hingedly connecting said auxiliary members to said central supporting members, the said slotted members being slidable relative to said rim whereby said auxiliary members are adapted to be folded in stacked position within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim, the said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward 'swinging of said rings, a base including a base plate rotatably supporting said central supporting member, the said base also including folding legs pivotally attached to said base plate, springs having recesses carried by said base plate adjacent the pivotal connection of said legs and projecting lugs provided on said legs for engagement with said recesses whereby to lock said legs in extended support position.

5. A rotatable and collapsible support for a plurality of bowls or the like which comprises, a dish-like central supporting member having an upstanding central platform and an upstanding peripheral rim, a folding U- shaped handle for said support andv pivotal connections betweenthe ends of said handle and said support, the

said pivotal connections including cam means tending to retain said handle in upright position and means carried by said rim for locking said handle in upright elevated position, a plurality of rings carried substantially equidistantly of said rim and forming auxiliary supporting members, a plurality of angular hinge members one for each of said rings, each of said hinge members including a laterally extending arm for carrying a ring and an upright elongated slotted body member receiving a portion of said rim for hingedly connecting said rings to said central supporting member, the said slotted members being slidable relative to said rim whereby said rings are adapted to be folded in stacked position Within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim and the said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward swinging of said rings.

6. A rotatable and collapsible support for a plurality of bowls or the like which comprises, a dish-like central supporting member having an upstanding peripheral rim, a folding U-shaped handle for said support and pivotal connections between the ends of said handle and said support, the said pivotal connections including means normally tending to retain said handle in upright position,

- a plurality of auxiliary supporting members carried substantially equidistantly of said rim, a plurality of angular hinge members one for each of said auxiliary members, each of said hinge members including a laterally extending arm for carrying an auxiliary member and an upright elongated slotted body member receiving a portion of said rim for hingedly connecting said auxiliary members to said central supporting member, the said slotted members being slidable relative to said rim whereby said auxiliary members are adapted to be folded in stacked position within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim and the said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward swinging of said rings.

7. A rotatable and collapsible support for a plurality of bowls or the like which comprises, a dish-like central supporting member having an upstanding central platform and an upstanding peripheral rim, a plurality of rings carried substantially equidistantly of said rim and forming auxiliary supporting members, a plurality of angular hinge members one for each of said rings, each of said hinge members including an upright elongated slotted body member receiving a portion of said rim for hingedly connecting said rings to said central supporting member, the said slotted members being slidable relative to said rim whereby said rings are adapted to be folded in stacked position within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim and the said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward swinging of said rings.

8. A rotatable and collapsible support for a plurality of bowls or the like which comprises, a dish-like central supporting member having an upstanding peripheral rim, a

plurality of auxiliary supporting members carried substantially equidistantly of said rim, a plurality of angular hinge members one for each of said auxiliary members, each of said hinge members including an upright elongated slotted body member receiving a portion of said rim for hingedly connecting said auxiliary members to said central supporting members, the said slotted members being slidable relative to said rim whereby said auxiliary members are adapted to be folded in stacked position within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim and the said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward swinging of said rings.

9. A rotatable and collapsible support for a plurality of bowls or the like which comprises, a central supporting member having an upstanding central bowl supporting platform and an upstanding peripheral rim, a plurality of rings carried substantially equidistantly of said rim and forming auxiliary bowl supporting members, means hingedly connecting said rings to said central supporting member whereby said rings are adapted to be folded in stacked position within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim, the said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward swinging of said rings, a base including a base plate rotatably supporting said central supporting member and folding legs pivotally attached to said base plate.

10. A rotatable and collapsible support for a plurality of bowls or the like which comprises, a central supporting member having an upstanding central bowl supporting platform and an upstanding peripheral rim, a plurality of rings carried substantially equidistantly of said rim and forming auxiliary bowl supporting members, means hingedly connecting said rings to said central supporting member whereby said rings are adapted to be folded in stacked position within said central supporting member beneath the plane of said rim or swung outwardly of said central supporting member in extended article supporting position substantially in the plane of said rim and the said hinge body members being supported in abutting relationship to said central supporting member for limiting the outward swinging of said rings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 409,930 Cornillie et a1 Aug. 27, 1889 468,038 Perryman Feb. 2, 1892 494,704 Hansen Apr. 4, 1893 1,207,863 Chisholm Dec. 12, 1916 1,552,856 Judge Sept. 8, 1925 1,569,585 Shover Jan. 12, 1926 1,669,065 Minton May 8, 1928 1,684,262 Clinker Sept. 11, 1928 1,728,512 Sharp Sept. 17, 1929 2,281,849 McCoppin May 5, 1942 2,501,270 Fleming Mar. 21, 1950 2,537,826 Hauser Jan. 9, 1951 

